The Marine Corps has carried out the first nighttime landings of its variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aboard a ship.
The F-35B, which features a short-take off and vertical-landing capability (STOVL), touched down on the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) on Wednesday, during the second round of at-sea developmental testing.
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| The F-35B ‘s first night landing aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1). Photo by U.S. Navy |
The landings mark a key point for a program that has been plagued by cost overruns and massive delays. The F-35B variant was on probation for one year because of developmental problems until the condition was lifted in January 2012.
Now the Marine Corps believes it is on track for initial operational capability in 2015. The landings were conducted by a Marine Corps Harrier pilot, Lt. Col. C.R. “Jimi” Clift, who said in a Pentagon release that eight night landings were carried out.
“It all went extremely well,” Clift said. “Eight successful landings in one night, so we’re tracking favorably along the learning curve.”
The second round of ship-based testing is to expand that envelope for the aircraft. The first round was completed in October 2011.
During the current 18 days of trials that began Aug. 12, two F-35Bs are also expanding their allowable wind envelope for launch and recovery, conducting initial mission systems evaluations at sea, evaluating aircraft operations on a moving flight deck, and further examining shipboard sustainment of the fighters, the Pentagon said.
The Pentagon said the Wasp has undergone modifications to accommodate the STOVL aircraft, including adding a new composite deck coating for extra protection, and relocating of some lights and sensors to better support F-35 landings.